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--- house_documents:constitutions:harambee [2024/07/25 13:38] – eo_harambee
+++ house_documents:constitutions:harambee [2026/03/01 15:05] (current) – [Article XIV: House Norms] eo_harambee
@@ Line 17: / Line 17: @@
   - **1.** ‘Constitution’ shall refer to this document in its entirety.
   - **2.** ‘Harambee House Cooperative,’ ‘Harambee House,’ ‘Harambee’ and ‘house’ shall be defined as the building located on the property: 427 Hillsdale Street, Lansing, Michigan 48933
-  - **3.** ‘Student Housing Cooperative,’ and ‘SHC’ shall refer to the body that owns the Harambee House Cooperative.
+  - **3.** ‘Spartan Housing Cooperative,’ and ‘SHC’ shall refer to the body that owns the Harambee House Cooperative.
   - **4.** A ‘member’ is any person who has ever held a valid contract with Harambee House Cooperative.
   - **5.** An ‘active member’ or ‘house member’ is any member currently living in Harambee House privy to the following conditions
     - **a.** Has a valid contract with SHC.
-    - **b.** I currently in good financial standing with SHC.
+    - **b.** Is currently in good financial standing with SHC.
   - **6.** A ‘guest’ is anyone staying at Harambee House for any length of time without having signed a contract.
   - **7.** ‘Active membership’ or ‘membership’ is the total number of individuals who are active members, or the entire group of active members.
@@ Line 31: / Line 31: @@
 ====Article II: Scope====
   - **1.** This constitution shall be subject to all laws and regulations set forth by the United States of America, the State of Michigan, and the City of Lansing.
-  - **2.** This constitution shall be subject to all rules and regulations set forth by the Michigan State Housing Cooperative (SHC) and all its respective governing bodies.
+  - **2.** This constitution shall be subject to all rules and regulations set forth by the Spartan Housing Cooperative (SHC) and all its respective governing bodies.
   - **3.** ‘This constitution shall supersede and nulls all previous constitutions initiated by Harambee House Cooperative.
   - **4.** This constitution shall supersede any rules or regulations that were implemented under the governance of this constitution.
   - **5.** All rules and regulations made under the governance of this constitution shall be placed in the addendum section of this constitution upon the approval of the active members during a Regular House Meeting.
-====Article IV: Governance====
+====Article III: Governance====
   - **1.** All rules and regulations imposed upon the members and guests of Harambee House shall be adopted at house meetings or be stated within this constitution.
-====Article V: House Meetings====
+====Article IV: House Meetings====
-  - **1.** A Regular House Meeting shall be a house meeting composed of the active membership subject to the following:
+  - **1.** A Regular House Meeting shall be composed of the active membership subject to the following:
-    - **a.** Quorum shall consist of ⅔ of the active house membership. In the event that quorum was not achieved at the preceding Regular House Meeting, quorum shall be ½ of the active membership for the latter meeting only.
+    - **a.** Quorum shall consist of ⅔ of the active house membership, rounded up to the nearest whole number. In the event that quorum was not achieved at the preceding Regular House Meeting, quorum shall be ½ of the active membership, rounded up to the nearest whole number for the latter meeting only.
-    - **b.** House meetings will take place every other Sunday
+    - **b.** House meetings will take place at least once per month.
     - **c.** A facilitator and note taker will be decided at the beginning of each meeting.
     - **d.** The standing agenda for house meetings is as follows:
       - **i.** Committee Meeting Review
-      - **ii.** Officer Reports
+      - **ii.** Officer Reports¹
       - **iii.** Member time
     - **e.** All house members will have the ability to vote on any business that concerns Harambee House.
     - **f.** Decisions at a house meeting will pass by a majority vote, unless otherwise described in this constitution.
-  - **2.** All house meetings are mandatory. If a member has to miss a meeting, they must get permission from the rest of the active members.
+  - **2.** All house meetings are mandatory. If a member has to miss a meeting, they must give notice to rest of the active members at least 30min before the meeting.
-====Article VI: Rules====
+¹Can also be found in the reporting channel in the house
-  - **1.** All members and guests are expected to read and heed all rules implemented in the manner dictated in Section 3 of Article VI.
+====Article V: Rules====
+  - **1.** All members and guests are expected to read and heed all rules implemented in the manner dictated in Section 3 of Article V.
   - **2.** Fines may be administered due to broken rules as agreed upon at a Regular House Meeting
   - **3.** Rules shall be implemented in the following manner:
     - **a.** Suggested rule is brought up during a Regular House Meeting
-    - **b.** Is passed in the manner prescribed by Article V, Section 1, Subsection F.
+    - **b.** Is passed in the manner prescribed by Article IV, Section 1, Subsection F.
     - **c.** Is written, posted, and added to the addendum section of this constitution.
   - **4.** Any Rule not added to the official constitution addendum shall not be enforced.
-====Article VII: Standing House Rules====
+====Article VI: Standing House Rules====
   - **1.** Smoking
     - **a.** There is no smoking of any kind within Harambee House
     - **b.** Smoking is allowed outside of Harambee House.
   - **2.** Room Picks
-    - **a.** Room picks will be based on contract signing date.
+    - **a.** Room picks will be based on contract signing date and availability.
   - **3.** Guests
     - **a.** Members may have guests at Harambee House a maximum of 3 days per week, 2 of which may be an overnight stay (unless otherwise agreed upon by the house)
     - **b.** Members must inform housemates of when they have a guest via the Discord Chat.
-    - **c.** House must vote on accepting guests staying longer than a week.
+    - **c.** House must vote on accepting guests staying longer than 3 days.
     - **d.** Guests staying long term may stay no longer than 30 days.
     - **e.** Guests staying long-term will be charged $25 each week.
-====Article IX: New Members====
+====Article VII: New Members====
   - **1.** Potential members of Harambee House must complete an the SHC Application, House Tour, and Interview in order to be accepted in the House.
   - **2.** Membership will vote on accepting a new member. Quorum (⅔) must be reached for acceptance.
   - **3.** If all rooms are full, members may be accepted and placed on a waiting list.
-====Artle X: Responsibilities of Membership====
+====Article VIII: Responsibilities of Membership====
   - **1.** Work Responsibilities
     - **a.** All active members of Harambee House are required to perform duties as decided upon by the house.
     - **b.** Final responsibility for assigned work rests with the active members who originally signed up for the job. If an active member cannot do a job, they may exchange duties with another active member if both active members agree to the conditions of exchange.
   - **2.** Financial Responsibilities: Contracts, Rent Payments, and Deposits
-    - **a.** Dues and deposits required by Harambee House and MSU SHC must be paid before a new member moves into the house.
+    - **a.** Dues and deposits required by Harambee House and SHC must be paid before a new member moves into the house.
-    - **b.** Any fines imposed by the membership for violating house rules, non performance of assigned work, or other offences shall be added to the member’s share of expenses. The member in question must pay these.
+    - **b.** Any fines imposed by the membership for violating house rules, non performance of assigned work, or other offenses shall be added to the member’s share of expenses. The member in question must pay these.
     - **c.** The Membership Officer will fill house openings.
     - **d.** Openings due to a vote to release a person from a contract must be filled by that member.
-    - **e.** If a contract is broken:
+    - **e.** If a member is released from contract:
-      - **i.** And there is more than one person which will be released from their contract, the rooms will be filled by prospective members that contact the house independent of an individual’s advertising efforts in the order that the departing members signed their release forms at the SHC office.
+      - **i.** The rooms will be filled by prospective members that contact the house independent of an individual’s advertising efforts in the order that the departing members signed their release forms at the SHC office.
       - **ii.** And an active member finds an acceptable applicant through their own advertising efforts, then that active member will be released from their contract when the new contract is finalized.
     - **f.** All house expenditures not accounted for will have an immediate stop payment put on them by the Finance Officer.
-====Article XI: House Officers and Other Leadership Positions====
+====Article IX: House Officers and Other Leadership Positions====
   - **1.** Harambee House shall have the following elected officers: Membership, Education, Finance, Facilities, and Board of Directors Representatives.
   - **2.** Harambee House shall have shall have the following leadership positions: Steward, Work and Secretary
@@ Line 125: / Line 126: @@
       - **vi.** Will represent Harambee House at SHC Facilities Committee meetings.
     - **e.** SHC Board of Directors Representative
-      - **i.** Will Represent Hillsdale House at SHC BOD meetings, and any other organizations that house may have collectively joined.
+      - **i.** Will Represent Harambee House at SHC BOD meetings, and any other organizations that house may have collectively joined.
       - **ii.** Must give notice to house of the affairs of these organizations during every Regular House Meeting.
-    - **f.** Office Laborer
+    - **f.** House Shopper
-      - **i.** Provide two hours of labor each week to the SHC on behalf of Harambee House.
+      - **i.** Take inventory of house supplies.
-    - **g.** Steward
+      - **ii.** If applicable, coordinate bulk order and arrange smooth pickup and delivery of the supplies.
-      - **i.** Take inventory of food and kitchen supplies and work with house shoppers to make sure the food supply is sufficient.
+      - **iii.** Work with the Finance Officer to keep track of the budget and stay within said budget.
-      - **ii.** Work with the house cooks to prepare a shopping list for the house shoppers each week.
+      - **iv.** Maintain communication with the membership about food preferences and restrictions, and take these into account when preparing shopping lists.
-      - **iii.** If applicable, coordinate bulk order and arrange smooth pickup and delivery of the supplies.
-      - **iv.** Work with the Finance Officer to keep track of the food budget and stay within said budget.
-      - **v.** Maintain communication with the membership about food preferences, and take these preferences into account when preparing shopping lists.
-    - **h.** Work Manager
-      - **i.** Will prepare and post list of all house jobs and the members assigned to do them.
-      - **ii.** Develop a system to make sure the house jobs are being done on a weekly basis in a timely, efficient fashion.
-      - **iii.** Establish fining system (if necessary) to be voted on at Regular House Meetings.
-      - **i.** House Secretary
-      - **i.** Make sure house minutes for each house meeting are placed accordingly within the Meeting Minutes Notebook.
-      - **ii.** Maintain a forwarding file of addresses of members who have moved out of Harambee House and forward any mail for those members who moved out less than one year ago.
-      - **iii.** Retrieve and sort mail daily.
-====Article XII: Fines, Penalties, and Expulsions====
+====Article X: Fines, Penalties, and Expulsions====
   - **1.** House destruction and blatant disregard for rules will be fined in the following manner unless otherwise described in this constitution:
     - **a.** The membership will hear complaints about the member who has purposefully destroyed an item belonging to the house during a Regular House Meeting.
     - **b.** The membership will vote on whether to fine the individual in question after both sides are heard.
-      - **i.** If the vote is in favor of fining the member in questions, then the fines shall be levied between $10 and $60 for that member. This will be determined by another vote, and only if a fine has not been previously designated in the Constitution or its respective addendum.
+      - **i.** If the vote is in favor of fining the member in question, then the fines shall be levied between $10 and $60 for that member. This will be determined by another vote, and only if a fine has not been previously designated in the Constitution or its respective addendum.
       - **ii.** If the vote is not in favor of fining the member in question, then the issue will be considered resolved.
-  - **2.** Grounds and procedures for expulsion are outlined in the MSU SHC Code of Operations.
+  - **2.** Grounds and procedures for expulsion are outlined in the SHC Code of Operations.
   - **3.** Fines may be removed if a majority of the active membership votes to remove the levied fine during a Regular House Meeting or if the SHC Grievance Committee determines the fine to be unfair.
-====Article XIII: House Events and Comradery====
+====Article XI: House Events and Comradery====
   - **1.** Work Weekend
     - **a.** The purpose of Work Weekend will be to clean Harambee House and complete projects that add value to Harambee House.
     - **b.** Will be held twice a year.
-    - **c.** The Facilities Officer and Work Manager will be in charge of scheduling, organizing, facilitating, and supervising Work Weekend.
+    - **c.** The Membership will be in charge of scheduling, organizing, and facilitating, Work Weekend during a regular house meeting.
     - **d.** The following items must occur prior to Work Weekend:
       - **i.** List of jobs will be completed and receive approval during a Regular House Meeting by a vote.
-      - **ii.** House members will choose the jobs they will complete from the approved list with facilitation from the Facilities Officer and Work Manage.
+      - **ii.** Times and dates for the work to be completed will be established and approved during a Regular House Meeting by a vote.
-      - **iii.** Times and dates for the work to be completed will be established and approved during a Regular House Meeting by a vote.
+      - **iii.** House members unable to attend Work Weekend must notify the membership.
-      - **iv.** House members unable to attend Work Weekend must notify the Facilities Officer and negotiate a project to make up for that house member’s absence.
+      - **iv.** The Facilities Officer will coordinate with House Shopper to acquire all tools, supplies, and permits as necessary to complete work weekend.
-      - **v.** The Facilities Officer will acquire all tools, supplies, and permits necessary to complete work weekend.
   - **2.** House parties
     - **a.** The purpose of a house party is to allow for the social outlet of the active members.
@@ Line 172: / Line 161: @@
       - **iv.** A unanimous vote of the active membership is required for any party to occur.
     - **c.** All members that approve/attend the party will be responsible for the damages/fines as well as cleanup that result from the party.
-  - **3.** Bonding time
-    - **a.** House members are encouraged to spend time with their housemates and participate in house bonding activities.
-====Article XIV: Fire Safety====
+====Article XII: Fire Safety====
   - **1.** Equipment Maintenance:
-    - **a.** All fire alarms, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers are functional and fully charged. Conduct a smoke detector inspection once a term or as prescribed by law.
+    - **a.** All fire alarms, smoke detectors, and fire extinguishers must be functional and fully charged. The house will conduct a smoke detector inspection once a term or as prescribed by law.
     - **b.** Each occupant is obligated to notify the facilities officer of malfunctioning fire safety equipment located in their bedroom.
     - **c.** Always have a fire extinguisher present in designated areas.
   - **2.** Fire Drills and Emergency Procedures:
     - **a.** The house will stage a fire drill at least once a term or as required by law.
-    - **b.** In the event of a fire alarm, the designated "sober representative" shall communicate with the fire department. This individual is also responsible for speaking with the police if they arrive.
+  - **3.** Inspections and Compliance:
-    -
+    - **a.** The house members will prepare for fire and city inspections by attending inspection dates with city officials. Ensure the house meets all compliance requirements.
+    - **b.** All house members will be informed of emergency procedures and an emergency fire escape plan will be posted in a common area at all times for reference.
-====Article XV: Amendments====
+====Article XIII: Amendments====
   - **1.** This constitution may be amended by the following procedure:
     - **a.** A committee or house member writes the amendment.
-    - **b.** The house approves the amendment by minimum 2.3 vote.
+    - **b.** The house approves the amendment by minimum ⅔ vote.
     - **c.** The Education Officer adds it to the constitution at the SHC office.
   - **2.** Vote Requirements/Restriction
-    - **a.** Acticle XII: Amendments can be amended with 80% vote of the active membership.
+    - **a.** Article VII: Amendments can be amended with 80% vote of the active membership.
     - **b.** All other articles require ⅔ of those present at the Regular House meetings.
+====Article XIV: House Norms====
+  - **1.** Communication:
+    - **a.** Discussion between housemates whether it is face to face, discord, text, or direct messaging, should remain respectful. Passive aggressive and belittling comments are not allowed.
+    - **b.** Politics of any sort are not to be discussed on discord or any internet platform we use.
+    - **c.** Members should prioritize house voting and scheduling availability for house meetings. Responses should be made no longer than a week after posting in the discord server.
+    - **d.** If any members have an issue with another housemate there should be an attempt to resolve the conflict privately first. If it can't be resolved privately, then we can discuss it in a house meeting or on discord.
+  - **2.** Consent:
+    - **a.** Respect the physical, sexual,  and emotional boundaries of all housemates. Ask permission before discussing sensitive subjects such as politics or religion, even if it is a private one-on-one conversation.
+    - **b.** Every housemate has the ability to revoke their consent at any time, even if it was initially given.
+  - **3.** Culture:
+    - **a.** Members will not engage in sexist, homophobic, transphobic, racist, ableist, or xenophobic behavior.
+       - **i.** This includes micro aggressive comments and "jokes" relating to someone's gender, culture, vernacular, or physical characteristics.
 ====Addendum====